Tory minority in jeopardy as opposition talks coalition. Will there be another election?

[Blindspot]

Here's a suggestion that I've heard has been running around western radio stations today:

All Conservative MPs should resign their seats en mass should the GG allow the coalition to form a government. This might force the GG to call a general election.

 

[ballz]

Just perusing this story on this forum (and elsewhere), and was I correct in seeing that one aspect of the deal (to appease the Bloc) was to make it "French Only" for federal institutions within Quebec?  Or was that the rambling of some crotchety old commentator?

Nope, that's exactly what you saw/heard.

Here's a suggestion that I've heard has been running around western radio stations today:

All Conservative MPs should resign their seats en mass should the GG allow the coalition to form a government. This might force the GG to call a general election.

Hmmm... Interesting for sure... any idea of the details in that? What would be the sequence of events? Surely it wouldn't simply be "we resign" and then "election time"?

 

[CountDC]

Nope, that's exactly what you saw/heard.

Hmmm... Interesting for sure... any idea of the details in that? What would be the sequence of events? Surely it wouldn't simply be "we resign" and then "election time"?

I believe it would be election time - by-election time.  Wouldn't it just be those seats vacated up for grabs?

 

[rampage800]

This whole thing is "Bush League" (not a ref to the US President) Canada looks more like a third world country pulling this stunt, the only thing missing is Dion wearing DEUs with medals hanging off all over the place like some of the leaders in those countries. Its hard to believe that the new PM might be someone that most Canadians wouldn't follow out of a burning house !

Junk

 

[ballz]

I believe it would be election time - by-election time.  Wouldn't it just be those seats vacated up for grabs?

If one or two seats resigned then yes, but 147 (I think... whatever it is, it's pretty damn close to half the seats)? I can see why the GG might decide to call a federal election then...

 

[Blindspot]

Hmmm... Interesting for sure... any idea of the details in that? What would be the sequence of events? Surely it wouldn't simply be "we resign" and then "election time"?

I imagine it would go something like this:

GG: Steven, sucks to be you but Steph and Jack are the boys now.
SH: Oh yeah? Well, we quit this gongshow.
GG: We? What do you mean, 'we'?
SH: I mean all 143 on this side of the house, 'we'.
MacKay: Oh SNAP!

 

[ballz]

I know it's not a very legit poll, but on msn.ca, 62% would rather the Conservatives govern, compared to only 20% who want the coalition to run. 18% chose "neither"  :

Again, not a scientific poll, but it's pretty decisive so I think it deserves mention.

 

[dapaterson]

Just perusing this story on this forum (and elsewhere), and was I correct in seeing that one aspect of the deal (to appease the Bloc) was to make it "French Only" for federal institutions within Quebec?  Or was that the rambling of some crotchety old commentator?

That's going to be a gaping self inflicted wound on the Liberals in Quebec next election; there are many yellow dog ridings in English Montreal that will see that as a the ultimate sell-out.

However, that condition does not appear in writing anywhere, but I suspect it will come out if the coalition is seated on the government benches.  Then the constitutional challenges to any such initiative will begin.

At least constitutional lawyers and scholars are gettig some work right now - a form of low-level economic stimulus.

 

[Reccesoldier]

He has signed.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/01/coalition-talks.html

That document is not the one proposing a coalition, that is a letter to the GG asking her to take a look at the other letter.  The one proposing a coalition only contains the signatures of Layton and Dion.

That may seem trivial but I dare say that without a formal coalition that can guarantee enough votes in parliament (i.e. one that explicitly includes the Bloc) to defeat the Conservatives the GG isn't going to entertain Larry, Moe and Curly's coalition.

Election 2008 redux here we come.

 

[Greymatters]

Just perusing this story on this forum (and elsewhere), and was I correct in seeing that one aspect of the deal (to appease the Bloc) was to make it "French Only" for federal institutions within Quebec?  Or was that the rambling of some crotchety old commentator?  

Effectively isolating them and creating a series of shadow insitutions.  How can they talk to each other if they dont speak the same language.  Answer, they wont.  At least with bilingualism there is a conduit for communication...

 

[Reccesoldier]

Trivia: in terms of absolute vote count, Stephen Harper received more votes in 2008 (5.21 million) than Paul Martin did in 2004 (4.98 million) or Jean Chretien received in his 1997 election (4.99 million) which earned him a majority. Harper’s 2008 count roughly tied Chretien’s 2000 majority result, too (5.25 million).

Thanks to Ezra Levant for doing the leg work.

http://ezralevant.com/2008/12/the-day-the-bloc-quebecois-joi.html

 

[Teflon]

Sad

But I don't remember seeing The New Democratic Libreal Separatist Party as an option on my last ballot

Guess none of them ran in my riding?

 

[Blakey]

That document is not the one proposing a coalition, that is a letter to the GG asking her to take a look at the other letter.  The one proposing a coalition only contains the signatures of Layton and Dion.

That may seem trivial but I dare say that without a formal coalition that can guarantee enough votes in parliament (i.e. one that explicitly includes the Bloc) to defeat the Conservatives the GG isn't going to entertain Larry, Moe and Curly's coalition.

Election 2008 redux here we come.

They must have read your post 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/pdf/081201_Accord_en.pdf

EDIT, sorry Zip, I could have sworn I had the same .pdf doc w/ the BQ leader on it, Wait out, I'll se if I can find it again...

 

[Reccesoldier]

They must have read your post 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/pdf/081201_Accord_en.pdf

I don't get what you are saying CK,  I'm pointing out that the document you just linked, the one that spells out the actual coalition only contains the signatures of Dion and Layton.  The one you linked to earlier as proof of Ducepes involvement was nothing more than a "please governor General look at our proposal" letter.

The Letter has nothing politically to offer the GG when she makes up her mind.  She will casually do the math and realize that the real coalition partners (excluding the gun the BQ are holding to their heads in the backroom) don't have more seats in their proposed minority than the government has in the current one.

 

[Blakey]

Sorry Zip, here is the document that I wanted to post
http://www.cbc.ca/news/pdf/081201_Policy%20Frame_en.pdf

Would this have any bearing on what you had proposed?

Or is this more akin to a "Party Platform"?

 

[Reccesoldier]

Sorry Zip, here is the document that I wanted to post
http://www.cbc.ca/news/pdf/081201_Policy%20Frame_en.pdf

Would this have any bearing on what you had proposed?

Or is this more akin to a "Party Platform"?

It's interesting but it has absolutely nothing to do with the way the coalition was constructed and how it was presented to the GG.

Funny that the same parties that lambasted the Conservatives for a thin policy document during the election think that they can replace the Conservatives plan with what amounts to a socialist call to arms scrawled on a single piece of foolscap.

 

[geo]

Unfortunately, the one time the GG actually has a job to do, she's going to sit there and take it. Why are we paying her anyway? I was never a supporter of having a GG, and this is just evidence that the whole "if" scenario ever did occur, she wouldn't do anything anyway.

Umm... why are you prejudging her actions.... before she has taken them ???
you don't support her appointment ??? gawd - so $hit Sherlock! you've certainly made that clear.

To date the GG has done extremely well by my books - living up to the expectations of the country.
I would expect her to inform herself of all the options that are open to her in the role of the GG - consulting parliamentary experts here (and possibly back in the UK) before taking any action.

 

[ballz]

Umm... why are you prejudging her actions.... before she has taken them ???

I haven't heard one political analyst say that there's even a slim hope in hell that she will call an election rather then allow the coalition. According to the many analysts and experts and blah blah blah, if the coaliton presents something with weight, she'll accept it rather then calling another election 8 weeks after the last election.

This is what her advisors will "advise" her to do. I don't expect her to make the decision at all. I expect her to do as she's told, which is what a GG does.

 

[OldSolduer]

I haven't heard one political analyst say that there's even a slim hope in hell that she will call an election rather then allow the coalition. According to the many analysts and experts and blah blah blah, if the coaliton presents something with weight, she'll accept it rather then calling another election 8 weeks after the last election.

This is what her advisors will "advise" her to do. I don't expect her to make the decision at all. I expect her to do as she's told, which is what a GG does.

We can see you don't like the office of Governor General. I've met the last two and they are all that is good with Canada.

When you become PM, then you can work to have the office abolished.

 

[Greymatters]

Funny that the same parties that lambasted the Conservatives for a thin policy document during the election think that they can replace the Conservatives plan with what amounts to a socialist call to arms scrawled on a single piece of foolscap.

Even more concerning is the intelligence and wisdom of who is going to supposedly make the call.  Does the GG, the current or any person plucked out of nowhere because they look good, really have the political experience and education to make this kind of call?  The GG wasnt appointed because she won a nobel prize.  And is the GG truly impartial, considering the current incumbent was appointed by a Liberal PM?